by Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
In the video below, you’ll see something I have never seen (or heard of) before–an elk feeding underwater, in a moving stream, no less. In my 35 years in Alaska, I observed many moose feeding this way, but almost always in ponds or lakes, never in a moving stream.
This video was taken in mid-June at the CSKT Bison Range, so I hesitated to includes it here as it’s not exactly local to our area. But I’m quite curious whether or not anyone else has observed this feeding behavior in elk. If you have, please leave a comment. And if you have any photos…
What a fascinating video! I’ve never seen elk feeding underwater either, especially in a moving stream. It’s intriguing to think about the adaptability of wildlife and how they find food in different environments. While moose are known for this behavior, I can understand why it would be rare to see elk doing the same.
I haven’t personally observed this feeding behavior in elk, but it certainly raises questions about their foraging habits. It’s amazing how each species adapts to their surroundings, and I would love to hear if others have had similar encounters or if they’ve documented this behavior.
Thanks for sharing such a unique observation! I look forward to hearing from anyone else who might have insights or photos related to this elk behavior.